462 F.

2d 1205

UNITED STATES of America

v.
John V. KENNY et al.
Appeal of William A. STERNKOPF, Jr., in No. 71-1886.
Appeal of Fred J. KROPKE, in No. 71-1887.
Appeal of Joseph B. STAPLETON, in No. 71-1888.
Appeal of Philip W. KUNZ, in No. 71-1889.
Appeal of Bernard MURPHY, in No. 71-1890.
Nos. 71-1886 to 71-1890.

United States Court of Appeals,

Third Circuit.
Argued Feb. 18, 1972.
Decided May 22, 1972.
As Amended June 9, 1972.

Mac Asbill, Jr., Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan, Washington, D. C., David
M. Satz, Jr., Newark, N. J., Rufus E. Brown, Michael L. Denger,
Washington, D. C., for appellant, William A. Sternkopf, Jr.; Saiber,
Schlesinger & Satz, Newark, N. J., of counsel.
John J. Carlin, Jr., James E. Davidson, Farrell, Curtis, Carlin & Davidson,
Morristown, N. J., for Fred J. Kropke.
Lawrence P. Brady, Jr., Jersey City, N. J., for Joseph B. Stapleton.
Arnold M. Stein, Stein & Einhorn, Denville, N. J., for Philip W. Kunz.
Robert A. Baime, Irvington, N. J., for Bernard Murphy.
Herbert J. Stern, U. S. Atty., John J. Barry, Marc L. Dembling, David R.
Hinden, Richard M. Langway, Asst. U. S. Attys., on the brief, Newark, N.
J., for appellee.
Before VAN DUSEN, ADAMS and GIBBONS, Circuit Judges.

OPINION OF THE COURT

GIBBONS, Circuit Judge.

On November 16, 1970 a federal grand jury in Newark returned a thirty-four

count indictment against John V. Kenny, Thomas Whelan, Thomas Flaherty,
Walter Wolfe, John J. Kenny, William Sternkopf, Jr., Fred Kropke, Frank G.
Manning, Joseph Stapleton, Philip Kunz, James R. Corrado and Bernard
Murphy. Prior to trial the defendants Frank G. Manning, and John J. Kenny (no
relation to John V. Kenny and called hereinafter J. J. Kenny) were severed and
were granted immunity pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2514. Corrado pleaded
guilty to one count on May 21, 1971. During the trial, on June 11, 1971 John V.
Kenny (hereinafter J. V. Kenny), because of physical inability to continue, was
severed. At the close of the Government's case five counts of the indictment
were dismissed on the motion of the Government. On July 5, 1971, the jury
returned verdicts of guilty against seven of the eight remaining defendants on
all twenty-nine remaining counts and against defendant Kunz on seventeen of
those counts. Sentences were imposed on August 10, 19711 and all defendants
except Wolfe appealed. Thereafter the defendants Whelan and Flaherty
withdrew their appeals. Thus of the twelve named in the indictment the appeals
of five, Sternkopf, Kropke, Stapleton, Kunz and Murphy, are before us.

Count I of the indictment charges that each of the defendants, during the period
from November 1, 1963 to the date of the indictment, conspired in violation of
18 U.S.C. Sec. 19512 to obstruct, delay, and affect interstate commerce by
impeding construction undertaken on behalf of the City of Jersey City and the
County of Hudson by contractors engaged in interstate commerce, in order to
obtain the property of such contractors with their consent, which was induced
both by the wrongful use of fear and under color of official right. Count II of
the indictment charges that each of the defendants, during the period from
November 1, 1963 to November 16, 1970, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3713
conspired to commit violations of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 19524 by using the facilities
of interstate commerce to carry on an unlawful activity, that activity being the
crimes of bribery and extortion in violation of the laws of the State of New
Jersey. Thus the indictment charges violations of two separate federal
conspiracy statutes; the specific prohibition in Sec. 1952 against conspiracies to
obstruct, delay or affect commerce (Count I) and the general prohibition in Sec.
371 against conspiracies to commit an offense against the United States (Count
II). The offense alleged against the United States in Count II is the substantive
violation of Sec. 1952-interstate travel to commit extortion or bribery in
violation of state law. Section 1952, unlike Sec. 1951, does not contain a

specific prohibition against conspiracy. Section 1951 prohibits both substantive

offenses and conspiracies. Counts III through XXXIV of the indictment each
charges a separate substantive violation of Sec. 1951 by the extortion of a
specific sum of money from a specific contractor.
3*****
4* * *
5

Each of the defendants was, or had been, a highly placed public official or
political leader in Jersey City or Hudson County or both. It was the Federal
Government's theory that each acting in concert with one or more of the others
used his position to fasten upon both the city and county administrations a
system whereby no one could do business with either without kicking back a
percentage, usually 10%, of the contract price. According to the Federal
Government this was achieved in three principal ways. First, the competitive
bidding process was perverted by a "pre-qualification" arrangement which
enabled the defendants to exclude from bidding contractors unwilling to kick
back. Second, payments for work already done would be withheld until the
kickback was made. Finally, on contracts not subject to competitive bidding the
contract would not be awarded to anyone unwilling to kick back. At the head of
this corrupt system, according to the Federal Government, was the defendant J.
V. Kenny, who, although he held no public office or official party position in
the years in question, was de facto the absolute boss of the political party in
power. Under his leadership, it was contended, the defendants fastened a
thoroughly meshed arrangement on both city and county administrations by
which they subverted those governmental units into corrupt vehicles for their
own private enrichment.

These contentions were amply proved by the testimony of numerous witnesses,

but particularly by the testimony of the two defendants, Manning and J. J.
Kenny, who as immunized witnesses detailed their own participation in the
corrupt system, its methods of operation, its pervasiveness, and its long term
success. The testimony of these acknowledged participants was corroborated in
detail not only by the testimony of numerous victims, but by proof of the
existence of substantial hoards of ill gotten gains accumulated by one or more
of the participants. The proof in the record of the existence of a system for
diverting the apparatus of city and county government to private, unlawful ends
is overwhelming.

Each of the appellants, however, contends that as to him the proof was not all
that overwhelming, that the Government's case placed him at the periphery at

best, and that he was prejudiced before or during the trial in various ways. Most
of the appellants urge common legal and factual issues, and these will be so
discussed. Where the situation of any appellant is unique specific reference will
be made to him.
8I. Contentions with Respect to Discovery of the Government's Case
9

All defendants engaged in extensive pre-trial motion practice looking to

discovery of the Government's case. That case was substantially documentary.
The court ordered the Government, on defendants' motion, to permit them to
inspect all tangible evidence related in any way to the case, to furnish in
advance copies of any records which the Government might use at the trial and
to furnish a copy of the grand jury testimony of each defendant who had
testified before the grand jury. As it turned out, there was a room full of
documents. This room was kept open to the defendants six days a week prior to
the trial and even on Sunday during the trial. Several of the defendants contend
that the court's approach was so overly liberal that they never made any
meaningful use of the vast volume of materials made available. This contention
is without substance. The nature of the conspiracy was such that it generated a
great deal of tangible evidence, including $50,090.00 in currency, all of which
was available for inspection. The only evidence which was not, pursuant to the
court's order, available for inspection prior to trial, was evidence of certain
transactions which did not come to the Government's attention until the trial
was under way. The court gave the defendants an adequate opportunity during
trial to prepare to meet any such later discovered evidence.

10

Several defendants contend that the court erred in denying their motion for a
bill of particulars. The court in the exercise of its sound discretion declined to
require the Government to answer a set of detailed interrogatories in the guise
of a bill of particulars. This decision to permit liberal inspection of all tangible
evidence placed a greater burden of preparation on the defendants than would
have been the case had their suggested course, requiring answers to a detailed
bill of particulars, been followed. This, however, was a matter within the
discretion of the court. The court leaned heavily toward liberal discovery
throughout the case, and the defendants cannot be heard to complain about the
balance of the burden of preparation which it struck between the prosecution
and the defense. Ample opportunnity for preparation was available, and from
the evidence in the record was in fact availed of.

11

Defendant Stapleton contends that the court erred in denying his motion,
pursuant to Fed.R.Crim.P. 16(a), for a copy of the statements of government
witnesses setting forth conversations with him. We rejected the same

contention in United States v. Fioravante, 412 F.2d 407, 410 (3d Cir. 1969),
cert. denied, Panaccione v. United States, 396 U.S. 837, 90 S.Ct. 97, 24
L.Ed.2d 88 (1969). Rule 16(a) does not require the discovery of witness
statements. Those statements are governed by the provisions of the Jencks Act,
18 U.S.C. Sec. 3500. That statute was complied with during the trial.
12

Finally, defendants Kropke and Stapleton contend that it was error for the court
to refuse discovery, prior to trial, of the contents of affidavits used to support
the issuance of search warrants on October 8, 1971. The affidavit was on the
Government's motion impounded in the interest of justice. The warrants
directed the search of their offices. The defendants sought its inspection in
connection with a proposed motion to suppress the fruits of the search. In
response the United States Attorney urged that the motion to suppress be
deferred until trial. He agreed to produce the affidavit at trial and represented
that the Government would not object to the timeliness of the suppression
motion at that time. Nevertheless Kropke and Stapleton made motions pursuant
to Fed. Fed.R.Crim.P. 41(e), for suppression. in response to these motions the
United States Attorney stipulated that the Government would make no use of
the materials seized in the search in its affirmative case at the trial. In effect the
Government, rather than disclose the contents of the affidavits consented to the
suppression motion. In these circumstances the court refused to permit pretrial
inspection of the affidavits.

13

Stapleton and Kropke contend, nevertheless, that they were prejudiced by the
use of the seized evidence before the grand jury. But a defendant may not
challenge an indictment on the ground that illegally obtained evidence was
presented to the grand jury. United States v. Blue, 384 U.S. 251, 86 S.Ct. 1416,
16 L.Ed.2d 510 (1966); Lawn v. United States, 355 U.S. 339, 78 S. Ct. 311, 2
L.Ed.2d 321 (1968); Costello v. United States, 350 U.S. 359, 76 S.Ct. 406, 100
L.Ed. 397 (1956); United States ex rel. Almeida v. Rundle, 383 F.2d 421, 424
(3d Cir. 1967), cert. denied, 393 U.S. 863, 89 S.Ct. 144, 21 L.Ed.2d 131 (1968);
United States v. Grosso, 358 F.2d 154, 163 (3d Cir. 1966); rev'd on other
grounds, 390 U.S. 62, 88 S.Ct. 709, 19 L.Ed.2d 906 (1968). Stapleton and
Kropke urge that the rule of these cases was changed by our decision in In Re
Grand Jury Proceedings, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 450 F.2d 199 (3d Cir.
1971), cert. granted, United States v. Egan, 404 U.S. 990, 92 S.Ct. 531, 30
L.Ed.2d 541 (Dec. 14, 1971). That case turns on the provisions of a specific
statute, 18 U.S.C. Secs. 2514, 2515, and involves the standing of a witness, in
that capacity, to refuse to testify before a grand jury. That issue is not presented
in this record. Nothing in the Harrisburg Grand Jury case reflects upon the
continuing validity of the rule of Blue, Lawn and Costello that a defendant
cannot challenge an indictment on the ground that it was based on illegally

obtained evidence.
14

In connection with the search warrant contentions of Stapleton and Kropke the
Federal Government makes the additional point that its consent to the
suppression motion was not an acknowledgement that the affidavits were
insufficient. The consent was made solely for the purpose of avoiding a
revelation of the identity of a potential witness. It urges that an examination of
the affidavits will disclose compliance with the formula set forth in Aguilar v.
Texas, 378 U.S. 108, 84 S.Ct. 1509, 12 L.Ed.2d 723 (1964), explained in
Spinelli v. United States, 393 U.S. 410, 89 S.Ct. 584, 21 L.Ed.2d 637 (1969)
and possibly contracted in United States v. Harris, 403 U.S. 573, 91 S.Ct. 2075,
29 L.Ed.2d 723 (1971). Because we hold that Blue, Lawn and Costello control
we do not reach that contention. At a later point we will discuss the use which
was made at the trial of the materials seized pursuant to the warrants.5

II. Contentions Addressed to the Indictment

15

The appellants make a series of contentions addressed to the form of the

indictment, the claimed variance of the proofs from the charge and the joinder
of issues and parties. These may be categorized under the headings of
vagueness, duplicity, variance and prejudicial joinder.

Vagueness
16

Sternkopf and Kropke urge that Count II of the indictment is vague as to

contravene both the fifth and the sixth amendments. Kropke also contends that
Count I is unconstitutionally vague. All the appellants have joined in these
contentions.

17

The attack upon Count I requires no prolonged discussion. It is identical in all

material respects with that approved in United States v. Addonizio, 451 F.2d 49
(3d Cir. 1971), cert. denied, 405 U.S. 936, 92 S.Ct. 949, 30 L.Ed.2d 812 (Feb.
22, 1972). Count II charges that the defendants:

18. . did knowingly . . . conspire . . . with each other, and with other persons . . . to
".
commit certain offenses . . . in violation of Section 1952 of Title 18 . . . in that the
defendants and said co-conspirators would travel and wilfully cause others to travel
in interstate commerce and that they would use and wilfully cause others to use the
facilities in interstate commerce . . . to promote, manage, establish and carry on and
facilitate the promoting, managing, establishing and carrying on of an unlawful
activity, said unlawful activity being the crimes of bribery and extortion in violation
of the laws of the State of New Jersey, and it was further part of said conspiracy that

the defendants would thereafter perform and cause others to perform acts of
promoting . . . of said unlawful activity and acts facilitating the promoting . . . of
said unlawful activity."
Section 1952 in relevant part reads:
19 Whoever travels in . . . or uses any facility in interstate . . commerce . . . with
"(a)
intent to******
20
***
21
22 otherwise promote, manage, establish, carry on, or facilitate the promotion,
(3)
management, establishment, or carrying on, of any unlawful activity, and thereafter
performs or attempts to perform any acts specified in [subparagraph] . . (3) shall be
fined . . . or imprisoned . . .
23 As used in this section 'unlawful activity' means . . . (2) extortion, bribery or
(b)
arson in violation of the laws of the State in which committed . . ."
24

A substantive violation of Sec. 1952(a) (3) thus requires proof of interstate

travel or use of interstate facilities with intent to promote extortion or bribery
followed by attempts to perform such extortion or bribery. The indictment
alleges all elements of this substantive offense in the language of Sec. 1952. It
charges a conspiracy to violate that section between November 1, 1963 and the
date of the indictment, and it alleges further that part of the conspiracy was the
performance of other acts for the purpose of concealment.

25

Appellants contend that this indictment was so vague that it permitted the
Federal Government to prove any extortion or bribery participated in by the
alleged conspirators in violation of New Jersey law in the specified time period.
This, they contend left the prosecutor free to prove offenses which had never
been considered by the grand jury, thereby violating the fifth amendment
guarantee that an accused charged with a serious crime be tried only on an
indictment of a grand jury. They contend, moreover, that Count II did not set
forth a "plain, concise and definite written statement of the essential facts
constituting the offense charged," Fed. R.Crim.P. 7(c), and thus violated their
sixth amendment guarantee that they be informed of the "nature and cause of
the accusation."

26

We hold that Count II complied with the standards set forth in Hagner v. United

States, 285 U.S. 427, 431, 52 S.Ct. 417, 76 L.Ed. 861 (1932) and Wong Tai v.
United States, 273 U.S. 77, 81, 47 S.Ct. 300, 71 L.Ed. 545 (1927). See United
States v. Dreer, 457 F.2d 31 (3d Cir., filed Mar. 9, 1972). It charges the
statutory crime in the language of the statute. It specifies the time period during
which the conspirators are claimed to have acted. It both apprises the appellants
of the charges against them and protects them against any future double
jeopardy. See United States v. Dreer, supra; United States v. Addonizio, supra;
Vandersee v. United States, 321 F.2d 57 (3d Cir. 1963); United States v.
Palmiotti, 254 F.2d 491, 495 (2d Cir. 1958); United States v. Achtner, 144 F.2d
49, 51 (2d Cir. 1944). In affording such protection the indictment in this case
differs crucially from that found defective in United States v. Raysor, 294 F.2d
563 (3d Cir. 1961). The contention that it permitted the proof of offenses not
permitted to the grand jury is without substance. The Federal Government was
required to offer to the grand jury some proof of the ongoing conspiracy alleged
in Count II. It was not required to offer proof of every violation of New Jersey
law which occurred as a result of that ongoing conspiracy. Evidence of some
such violations did not come to the attention of the prosecuting authorities until
after the indictment was returned. This evidence was, however, probative of the
overall continuing conspiracy which the grand jury charged. Thus this case is
not at all like Stirone v. United States, 361 U.S. 212, 80 S.Ct. 270, 4 L.Ed.2d
252 (1960), in which the grand jury charged a specific substantive interference
with interstate commerce and the Government proved a different substantive
interference. Indeed the form of the indictment was compelled by the nature of
the conspiracy. It was a conspiracy to exact a toll from everyone who could be
made amenable to such an exaction by virtue of the defendants' control of the
administrative apparatus of local government. It is entirely likely that neither
the grand jury nor the federal prosecuting authorities have not to this day
discovered every instance of bribery or extortion by the conspirators in
violation of New Jersey law. But the conspiracy to violate Sec. 1952 during the
specified period was charged and was proved. The appellants cannot again be
put in jeopardy for the same conspiracy even if new instances of violations of
the New Jersey bribery and extortion laws in the same time period should now
be discovered.
Duplicity
27

Appellants urge that because the Federal Government's position at all times
was that there was a single overall conspiracy they were prejudiced by the fact
that they were charged with two separate conspiracy counts. The maximum
sentence under Sec. 1951 is twenty years, and none of the defendants received a
sentence in excess of twenty years. A single general sentence was imposed.
Since each sentence was less than the maximum permitted under Sec. 1951 the

judgment should be upheld if conviction on the Sec. 1951 count is sustainable.

Barenblatt v. United States, 360 U.S. 109, 115, 79 S.Ct. 1081, 3 L.Ed. 2d 1115
(1959); Roviaro v. United States, 353 U.S. 53, 55-56, 77 S.Ct. 623, 1 L.Ed.2d
639 (1957); Whitfield v. Ohio, 297 U.S. 431, 438, 56 S.Ct. 532, 80 L.Ed. 778
(1936); Claassen v. United States, 142 U.S. 140, 147, 12 S.Ct. 169, 35 L.Ed.
966 (1891); Peoples v. United States, 412 F.2d 5 (8th Cir. 1969) and cases cited
therein.
28

We need not rest affirmance on that ground alone, however. The single overall
conspiracy violated two separate federal statutes prohibiting conspiracies.
Count I charges a violation of the conspiracy prohibition in 18 U.S.C. Sec.
1951-conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce. Count II charges a
violation of the general federal conspiracy statute in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 371conspiracy to violate a federal statute, in this case 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1952, by
conspiring to use the facilities of interstate commerce to violate state law.
Count I required proof of interference with interstate commerce by extortion.
Count II required proof of use of the facilities of interstate commerce. So long
as each required proof of a fact not essential to the other, even though the
charges arose from a single act or series of acts, or as here a single conspiracy,
the defendants could be convicted of both. Pereira v. United States, 347 U.S. 1,
9, 74 S.Ct. 358, 98 L.Ed. 435 (1954); United States v. Beacon Brass Co., 344
U.S. 43, 45, 73 S.Ct. 77, 97 L.Ed. 61 (1952); American Tobacco Co. v. United
States, 328 U.S. 781, 66 S.Ct. 1125, 90 L.Ed. 1575 (1946); United States v.
Noveck, 273 U.S. 202, 206, 47 S.Ct. 341, 71 L.Ed. 610 (1927); Gavieres v.
United States, 220 U.S. 338, 31 S.Ct. 421, 55 L.Ed. 489 (1911); United States
v. Samuel Dunkel & Co., 184 F.2d 894 (2d Cir. 1950), cert. denied, 340 U.S.
930, 71 S.Ct. 491, 95 L.Ed. 671 (1951); cf. United States v. Caci, 401 F.2d 664
(2d Cir. 1968), cert. denied, 394 U.S. 917, 89 S.Ct. 1180, 22 L.Ed.2d 450
(1969). Separate federal interests were invaded by the separate violation of two
conspiracy statutes by a single conspiracy. See American Tobacco Co. v.
United States, supra, 328 U.S. at 787, 66 S.Ct. 1125.

29

Moreover each of these statutes permits a different range of sentence.6 It was

proper to charge both violations as separate counts of the indictment.

Variance
30

The appellants contend that their convictions should be reversed because of a

fatal variance between the proofs adduced at trial and the indictment. To put
this argument in perspective it must be recalled that in addition to the two
conspiracy counts the indictment alleged thirty-two separate substantive counts
charging separate extortive transactions with interstate contractors or suppliers

in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1951. Evidence was offered tending to prove

twenty seven of these counts, and most of that evidence tended to show concert
of action between one or more of the defendants and hence to prove Count I.
Evidence was offered with respect to many of these same transactions tending
to prove that one or more of the defendants acting in concert caused the
facilities of interstate commerce to be used in furtherance of the extortion, and
hence to prove Count II. Thus this is not a case where there was no evidence of
the existence of a conspiracy. Compare United States v. DeCavalcante, 440
F.2d 1264 (3d Cir. 1971), cert. den. 404 U.S. 1039, 92 S.Ct. 715, 30 L.Ed. 731.
The appellants claim, however, that although there was ample proof of concert
of action, and ample proof of substantive violations of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1951, and
ample proof of use of the facilities of interstate commerce, and ample proof of
bribery and extortion in violation of New Jersey law, the Government in fact
proved several separate unrelated conspiracies under each conspiracy count.
They argue that the proof established a Jersey City conspiracy to extort from
contractors, a separate Jersey City conspiracy to extort from gamblers, a
Hudson County conspiracy to extort from contractors, a separate conspiracy to
extort from J. Rich Steers Company in connection with a Port of New York
Authority contract, and a separate conspiracy to extort from Di Feo Motors.
They urge that it was improper to lump together in one indictment several
conspiracies, Kotteakos v. United States, 328 U.S. 750, 66 S.Ct. 1239, 90 L.Ed.
1557 (1946), and that by permitting proof of separate conspiracies the court
permitted the Government to amend the indictment without resubmission to the
grand jury. Russell v. United States, 369 U.S. 749, 82 S.Ct. 1038, 8 L.Ed.2d
240 (1962).
31

Kotteakos prohibits charging multiple unrelated conspiracies, but it does not

prohibit charging one master conspiracy and establishing at trial that under the
master conspiracy more than one subsidiary scheme was involved. Blumenthal
v. United States, 332 U.S. 539, 68 S.Ct. 248, 92 L.Ed. 154 (1947). Explaining
Kotteakos in Blumenthal Justice Rutledge wrote:

32
"Except
for Brown, the common figure, no conspirator was interested in whether
any loan except his own went through. And none aided in any way, by agreement or
otherwise, in procuring another's loan. The conspiracies therefore were distinct and
disconnected, not parts of a larger general scheme, both in the phase of agreement
with Brown and also in the absence of any aid given to others as well as in specific
object and result. There was no drawing of all together in a single over-all
comprehensive plan." 332 U.S. at 558, 68 S.Ct. at 257.
33

Here there is ample evidence of a large general scheme, and of aid given by
some conspirators to others in aid of that scheme. Each of the appellants was

connected by evidence to the large general scheme. At the head of the scheme
was J. V. Kenny who, the evidence suggests, ruled the political life of both city
and county. Each of the remaining defendants held an official position in city or
county government as a result of membership in J. V. Kenny's organization. He
effectively determined who would hold public office in either government and
he organized a system to insure that all contractors working on a public project
would kickback a percentage of the contract price to a designated bagman.
Generally speaking members of the city government would collect kickbacks
from city contractors and members of the county government would collect
from county contractors. But the roles played by various conspirators varied
from time to time. Thus city collector Murphy was at one point replaced by
Manning, who in turn was replaced by Flaherty. County collector Schlosberg
was at his death replaced by J. J. Kenny, who was in turn replaced, after a
falling out with J. V. Kenny, by Manning, who was eventually replaced by
Wolfe. Manning, as County Engineer on occasion collected from firms which
were performing city work. J. J. Kenny, a County Freeholder, on occasion
collected from firms which were performing city work. The pattern of conduct
reflected in the evidence is that of a determined group who repeatedly
cooperated closely to achieve the common purpose of self-enrichment by
extracting kickbacks. The key to success of all their depravities was their
common control over the administration of city and county government under
the leadership of J. V. Kenny. Without detailing all of the transactions,
evidence about Ashland Oil Company, the subject of one of the substantive
counts, discloses the typical common ingredients. J. V. Kenny ordered the
extortion; Sternkopf made the original demand. Sternkopf recruited Manning to
make the collection, and Manning collected the money and turned it over to
Wolfe. When the conspirators learned that Schuster, an Ashland employee, was
appearing before the federal grand jury, Wolfe gave cash to Kropke to return to
Schuster. Kropke attempted to do so but could not reach Schuster. He then
returned the cash to Wolfe who returned it to Stapleton.
34

Manning and J. J. Kenny, the immunized co-conspirators, described the

"system" or "official family" and the role of each defendant in it. It is clear from
the evidence that none of the so called separate conspiracies could have
operated except for the existence of the overall conspiracy charged by the grand
jury. The court clearly charged that each defendant had to be connected with
this overall conspiracy. This case is like Blumenthal v. United States, supra,
rather than like Kotteakos v. United States, supra, upon which appellants rely.

Prejudicial Joinder
35

The appellants urge that the joinder Counts I and II of the indictment was

improper under Fed.R.Crim.P. 8(a) and that the joinder of defendants was
improper under Fed.R.Crim.P. 8(b). They contend that the district court erred in
denying their Rule 14 motions for severance of offenses and for separate trials.
These severance claims are predicated chiefly upon the allegedly prejudicial
effect of evidence admitted against some defendants which in the view of one
or more of the appellants was inadmissible against him. Kunz and Kropke
further contend that since they played only a minor part in the conspiracy their
severance should have been ordered. We find no abuse of discretion. United
States v. Weber, 437 F.2d 327, 331-332, 340 (3d Cir. 1970), cert. denied, 402
U.S. 932, 91 S.Ct. 1524, 28 L.Ed.2d 867 (1971); United States v. Barrow, 363
F.2d 62 (3d Cir. 1966), cert. denied, 385 U.S. 1001, 87 S.Ct. 703, 17 L.Ed.2d
541 (1967).
36

The evidence on the two conspiracy counts was essentially the same. The
difference between them was that for Count I the government had to establish
effect on interstate commerce while in the other it had to establish use of the
facilities of interstate commerce. No possible prejudice arose from such
evidence. It is true that Count II permitted greater latitude in proving
substantive offenses against New Jersey law, since, if use of the facilities of
interstate commerce was shown the Government could, and did, prove
extortion from persons engaged in activities essentially intrastate. But the
extortions in question were of the same character and grew out of the same
overall conspiracy. Each involved misuse of the instrumentalities of
government upon which the conspirators had fastened themselves. It was,
therefore, no abuse of discretion to deny the motions to sever Counts I and II.

37

We turn, then, to the contention that some of the appellants should have been
granted separate trials because of the prejudicial effect of evidence admitted
against others which would be inadmissible against them. For two reasons we
reject this contention. First, the mere possibility that in a joint trial some
evidence may be admitted against one defendant which is inadmissible against
another is not in itself a sufficient reason for multiple trials growing out of a
closely related series of transactions. The prospect that certain evidence will be
admissible against one defendant but not against another is a feature of all joint
trials. Fed.R.Crim.P. 8 recognizes that this is a possibility, and Rule 14 commits
to the sound discretion of the trial court the balancing of the inconvenience to
the Government and the judicial process of numerous separate trials against the
inconvenience to the defendants of seeking appropriate limiting instructions.
See, e. g., United States v. Barber, 442 F.2d 517, 529 (3d Cir. 1971), cert.
denied, 404 U.S. 958, 92 S.Ct. 327, 30 L.Ed.2d 275 (1971). There is no abuse
of this discretion in the instant case. Second, the granting of separate trials
would not have significantly benefited the defendants who now complain. They

would not have been able to compel self incriminating testimony of those codefendants who in this trial declined to testify. Counselman v. Hitchcock, 142
U.S. 547, 562, 12 S.Ct. 195, 35 L.Ed. 1110 (1892). See generally United States
v. Housing Foundation of America, 176 F.2d 665 (3d Cir. 1949). There was
some evidence linking each defendant to the conspiracy. See United States v.
Cohen, 197 F.2d 26 (3d Cir. 1952). Thus the evidence of acts of all the coconspirators in furtherance thereof would be admissible against them. See, e. g.,
United States v. Weber, supra; Baker v. United States, 131 U.S.App.D.C. 7,
401 F.2d 958, 974 (1968), cert. denied, 400 U.S. 965, 91 S.Ct. 367, 27 L.Ed.2d
384 (1970); Drew v. United States, 118 U.S.App.D.C. 11, 331 F.2d 85, 90
(1964).
38

The real thrust of the appellants' objections to their joint trial is that the rules of
evidence pertaining to conspiracy trials operated harshly, particularly because
the out-of-court declarations of each co-conspirator became admissible against
each other co-conspirator. We are, of course, mindful of the dangers of unfair
guilt by association involved in the law of criminal conspiracy. In the instant
case, however, there was evidence linking each of the appellants to the
conspiracy, although in varying levels of participation.7 In these circumstances,
the evidence rules applicable to conspiracy trials did not operate unfairly.
Indeed, this case illustrates the pervasive danger to the community of
conspiratorial associations and thus hardly presents a sympathetic vehicle for
the reconsideration of the co-conspirator admissions rule, even if we, as
opposed to a higher authority, were free to change that rule.

III. Contentions Addressed to Admissibility of Evidence in

39
the Government's Case
40
41

All the appellants complain about various items of evidence admitted during
the Government's case. Much of the evidence consisted of shocking revelations
by the two immunized co-conspirator defendants, J. J. Kenny and Manning.

A. Evidence of Concealed Wealth

42

Among the more sensational items of evidence were those establishing the
existence of large concealed wealth in the possession or control of one or more
of the alleged conspirators. The court admitted in evidence $700,000 in bearer
bonds belonging to J. V. Kenny. It admitted evidence of a secret numbered
bank account in Miami, Florida, controlled by Whelan and Flaherty, containing
$1.2 million. It admitted in evidence $50,090.00 in currency which was given
by J. V. Kenny to J. J. Kenny in February 1971, after the indictment, for the

purpose of "investigating" and "discrediting" Manning, who by then was

suspected of being a potential witness. It admitted testimony that Sternkopf
assisted J. J. Kenny to invest substantial funds which the Government contends
were proceeds of the crimes charged.
43

Appellants urge, on the authority of Williams v. United States, 168 U.S. 382,
18 S.Ct. 92, 42 L.Ed. 509 (1897) that all the foregoing evidence was
improperly admitted because no connection was shown between the possession
by the defendants of the sums specified and the extortions for which they were
indicted. We have held that sudden unexplained acquisition of wealth at or
about the time of the offense charged establishes a sufficient nexus to satisfy
the rule of Williams, supra. See United States v. Chaney, 446 F.2d 571 (3d Cir.
1971); United States v. Jackson, 403 F.2d 647, 649 (3d Cir. 1968), cert. denied,
Barefield v. United States, 394 U.S. 949, 189 S.Ct. 1287, 22 L.Ed.2d 483
(1969); United States v. Howell, 240 F.2d 149, 158 (3d Cir. 1956). We have
also held that evidence of a desire to conceal a large sum of money shortly after
a crime sufficiently establishes the connection required by Williams. United
States v. McKenzie, 414 F.2d 808 (3d Cir. 1969), cert. denied, Anthony v.
United States, 396 U.S. 1019, 90 S.Ct. 586, 24 L.Ed.2d 510 (1970). See also
United States v. Jackskion, 102 F.2d 683 (2d Cir.), cert. denied 307 U.S. 635,
59 S.Ct. 1032, 83 L.Ed. 1517 (1939); Commonwealth v. Mulrey, 170 Mass.
103, 49 N.E. 91 (1898). Measured by the rules which this circuit has followed
there was in each of the four instances complained of sufficient evidence
connecting the money to the conspiracy.

(1) The J. V. Kenny Bonds

44
45

J. V. Kenny arranged during the pendency of the charged conspiracies

surreptitious transfers of currency for the acquisition of bonds, through the
Trust Company of New Jersey, utilizing the services of Kropke and Sternkopf.
Brill, an officer of the Trust Company of New Jersey, testified that Sternkopf
called him on the telephone to arrange for the purchase of $200,000 worth of
New Jersey Turnpike Bonds. Sternkopf told Brill that a representative of J. V.
Kenny would arrange for payment. On October 4, 1966 Kropke brought to the
bank $200,870.84 in currency. J. V. Kenny later personally picked up the bonds
from Brill after they were delivered to the bank by Lehman Brothers, the
underwriter. An official of Lehman Brothers, Ragsdale, testified that after the
purchase he had a conversation with Sternkopf in which Sternkopf expressed
extreme displeasure over the fact that Lehman Brothers put J. V. Kenny's name
on the bill. Sternkopf directed Lehman Brothers "never to put John V. Kenny's
name on any such bill" in the future. In May, 1967, J. V. Kenny decided to
purchase $200,000 worth of City of New York bonds. Kropke brought Brill

$200,000 in currency. After receipt of the bonds from New York Brill
personally delivered the bonds to J. V. Kenny at Corrado's office in Pollak
Hospital. In April, 1968, Sternkopf telephoned Brill regarding the purchase of
$100,000.00 of County of Loran, Ohio, bonds. Brill went to Sternkopf's office,
and Sternkopf gave him $102,365.97 in currency, Brill delivered the bonds to
Sternkopf. In July 1968 Sternkopf again called Brill and arranged for the
purchase of $200,000 worth of New Jersey Turnpike bonds. Brill arranged for
the delivery of the bonds from New York and delivered them personally to
Sternkopf, receiving $200,000 from him in currency.
46

Brill testified that all the bonds were "bearer bonds", that all were delivered
from New York (as charged in Count II), that in each instance the Trust
Company of New Jersey as agent for J. V. Kenny paid for the bonds by a bank
treasurer's check, thus concealing the fact that J. V. Kenny had available for
such purchases during the period when the conspiracy was operating over
$700,000 in currency. There was evidence that all kickbacks were made in
currency. These transactions were amply connected to the conspiracy. United
States v. McKenzie, supra; United States v. Jackskion, supra. They were
evidential of the knowledge and participation of Kropke and Sternkopf in that
conspiracy. United States v. Addonizio, 449 F.2d 100, 102 (3d Cir. 1971);
United States v. Barrow, 363 F.2d 62 (3d Cir. 1966), cert. denied, 385 U.S.
1001, 87 S.Ct. 703, 17 L.Ed.2d 541 (1967).

(2) The Whelan and Flaherty Accounts

47
48

The immunized defendant, Manning, testified:

49 Did you ever have any conversation with defendant Flaherty in reference to any
"Q.
of the proceeds of the contractors' envelopes?
A. Yes, sir, I did.
50
******
51
***
52
53 In substance what did the defendant Flaherty say to you and what did you say to
Q.
him?
54 He and Mayor Whelan were very disturbed about the opposition on the Hill,
A.
referring to the County organization, that they think we are stupid. They are the
stupid ones. They stashed their cash in local banks. He said that we put ours in the
bank owned by a friend of mine outside the State. (Tr. 3985)."

55

Later in the trial Dennis Clum, senior Vice President in charge of the Trust
Department of the Miami Beach First National Bank testified that James Rogers
of that bank, formerly an officer of the First National Bank of Jersey City,
introduced him to Flaherty at his office in Miami on November 14, 1968.
Flaherty asked if the bank would open a custodial account which would be
identified by a number so that his name would not be associated with the
account. Clum advised that the bank could open such an account. Flaherty then
opened a brown attache case which contained $281,000 in municipal bearer
bonds and $242,897 in currency, for a total of $523,897. On many of the bearer
bonds the interest coupons had not been clipped since 1966. The accumulated
uncollected interest was about $13,000. On September 12, 1969 Flaherty
returned to Clum's office, this time in the company of Whelan. Flaherty
introduced Whelan and said he wanted to open a similar numbered account in
which his name would not be disclosed. Whelan had in his possession
municipal bearer bonds of a face amount of $502,000. A numbered custodial
account was opened for him. Flaherty instructed the bank to transfer bonds of
an equivalent amount of $45,000 from his account to Whelan's. Thereafter on
another occasion Whelan and Flaherty came to the bank with their wives and
executed agreements whereby each of them and their respective wives would
have the right to add to or withdraw from the other's account. On February 2,
1970 Whelan deposited $35,000 in currency in his numbered account and
Flaherty deposited $40,000 in currency in his numbered account. On May 13,
1970 Whelan and Flaherty each deposited $30,000 in currency in their
respective numbered accounts.

56

In late May or June, 1970, after the federal grand jury investigation of Hudson
County and Jersey City had begun, Flaherty called Clum and said he wanted to
close both accounts. He told Clum he would send Atkinson, a Jersey City
police sergeant, to Miami to pick up authorizations for his and Whelan's
signatures. Atkinson went to Florida, picked up the authorization forms,
returned to Jersey City and obtained the signatures of Whelan and Flaherty. He
returned to Florida on June 12, 1970 with a large suitcase and the executed
authorizations. Clum delivered to Atkinson from Flaherty's account $571,000
of face value municipal bearer bonds, a check on principal cash in the amount
of $30,025 and a check representing accumulated income of $13,270.36, or a
total of $614,295.36. From Whelan's account he delivered municipal bearer
bonds in face amount of $577,000, a check drawn on principal cash in the
amount of $35,025, and a check representing accumulated income of $6,112.94
or a total of $618,137.94. The four checks totaling $84,433.30 had not been
negotiated when Clum testified on June 22, 1971.

57

Manning's testimony connected Flaherty's and Whelan's out of state bank

accounts with the conspiracy. But aside from that testimony the existence of
large and unexplained amounts of cash and bearer bonds simultaneously with
the offenses and the efforts at concealment provide an ample nexus with the
conspiracy. United States v. Chaney, supra; United States v. McKenzie, supra;
United States v. Jackson, supra; United States v. Howell, supra. Indeed the
efforts at concealment of the cash hoards were, as alleged in Count II of the
indictment, for the purpose of hiding and concealing the purposes of and acts in
furtherance of the conspiracy.
(3) The Cash Given by J. V. Kenny to J. J. Kenny
58
59

The immunized defendant J. J. Kenny testified that on February 3, 1971 after

the indictment, and at a time when he had broken with the organization headed
by J. V. Kenny, and before he began cooperating with the Government, he met
with J. V. Kenny at Newark Airport and asked J. V. Kenny for $50,000. He
told J. V. Kenny that he needed this sum to hire investigators and accountants.

"Q. Did you tell him why you wanted to hire investigators and accountants?
60
61 Yes, I told him I needed the money and I wanted to spread it to a fellow by the
A.
name of Frank Manning." (Tr. 1096-97)
62

Three days later J. J. Kenny received a message from someone named

Pandolphi, telling him to go to a garage. He went to the garage and Pandolphi
gave him $50,090 in currency. Thereafter he began cooperating with the
Government and he turned the money over to the United States Attorney. Each
bill was marked, and the $50,090 was offered and received in evidence. Frank
Manning, of course, is the other immunized co-defendant. J. J. Kenny testified
that he discussed with J. V. Kenny the use to which the money was to be put.

63 Witness: The purpose was to hire investigators, accountants, to discredit Mr.

"The
Manning.
Q. Was there any discussion as to why you wanted to discredit Frank Manning?
64
******
65
***
66
67 Witness: The discussion was to discredit Mr. Manning. He was one of the
The
defendants at the time.
Q. Did you have any discussion with Mr. John V. Kenny as to why Manning should
68

be discredited?
******
69
***
70
71 Witness: The discussion was that he was the party that we had to discredit." (Tr.
The
1116-1118)
72

The appellants urge that the admission of the foregoing testimony and evidence
was grounds for a mistrial. They contend that it was perfectly proper for J. J.
Kenny, in connection with the preparation of his defense to the indictment, to
hire "investigators and accountants" to discredit Manning, and that it was
perfectly proper for J. V. Kenny to give J. J. Kenny $50,090 for this purpose.
The evidential use to which the Government put the funds, they contend,
somehow infringed the right of J. J. Kenny and J. V. Kenny to prepare a
defense. But neither Kenny is before us advancing this contention, and the
prejudice, if any, must have been to the appellants before us for us to consider
it.

73

The issue is whether the testimony was properly admissible against anyone,
since on the record in the district court it is clear that the objections made on
behalf of the appellants were to any admission of the evidence. There was no
request for a limiting instruction to the effect that the testimony and the
currency could only be considered against some defendants.8

74

It is clear that the furtive transfer of $50,090 in currency from one conspirator
to another conspirator for the purpose of discrediting a potential government
witness certainly was evidence of consciousness of guilt on the part of the two
defendants who participated in the transactions, and thus was admissible against
the defendant J. V. Kenny. Next, the ready availability of a $50,090 hoard of
currency was highly corroborative of the testimony of J. J. Kenny that the
conspirators had extorted millions of dollars of currency which they secreted
for their own use. Thus the evidence corroborated his testimony about the
operation and success of the system which he described. As such it was
admissible on the conspiracy counts against all the conspirators. Finally, the
ready availability to one of the conspirators of $50,090 in cash and its transfer
to another conspirator at a time shortly after the period during which the
conspiracy is alleged to have continued,9 as with other evidence of large
unexplained hoards of currency, tended to establish the offenses charges.
United States v. Chaney, supra; United States v. McKenzie, supra; United
States v. Jackson, supra; United States v. Howell, supra.

75

Moreover the clandestine transfer of $50,090 in currency from one conspirator

to another certainly suggests an effort to conceal its existence. Appellants urge
that the only possible construction which may be placed on the testimony is
that the money was for legitimate pre-trial preparation by J. J. Kenny. Arguably
that was the case, but the circumstances suggest Judge Learned Hand's
aphorism, "[t]here may be honor among thieves, but there is no maudlin
munificence." United States v. Compagna, 146 F.2d 524, 530 (2d Cir. 1944),
cert. denied, 324 U.S. 867, 65 S.Ct. 912, 89 L. Ed. 1422 (1945).

76

Testimony about the $50,090, and the currency, were properly admitted.

77 The Investments in C.E.W. Corporation Made By J. J. Kenny with Sternkopf's

(4)
Help
78

Sternkopf in particular claims that it was error to admit evidence that he

assisted J. J. Kenny in making a concealed investment in C.E.W. Corporation.
To put that objection in context it should be recalled that there is other evidence
connecting Sternkopf to the conspiracy as early as October 1966. See p. 1222
supra. Moreover before the evidence now complained of was admitted J. J.
Kenny had testified about specific extortive transactions involving J. Rich
Steers Corporation in which Sternkopf was a participant. Early in 1967, while
Sternkopf was the Vice Chairman of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority,
Galano, of the Steers firm, told J. J. Kenny he had been to see J. V. Kenny
about obtaining a ten million dollar contract with that Authority, that he was
interested in turnpike work, and that J. J. Kenny was to see if he could get it for
Steers. J. J. Kenny met with Sternkopf and they agreed the Turnpike Contract
was worth $50,000.00. J. J. Kenny then met with Galano and Rau, the president
of Steers, and negotiated for a $50,000 kickback. Steers got the job and
beginning in January 1968 paid the money in installments. One half of each
installment was paid to Sternkopf and the other half to Stapleton, the treasurer
for the system. Though the payments were made in 1968, Sternkopf's
participation began in early 1967. The C.E.W. transaction took place in 1967. J.
J. Kenny told Sternkopf that he had some "cash" he wanted to invest. Dooley, J.
J. Kenny's brother-in-law, had succeeded Sternkopf as Clerk of the Hudson
County Board of Chosen Freeholders on Sternkopf's recommendation. J. J.
Kenny told Sternkopf he wanted Dooley to act as his agent in the investment.
He gave Dooley $65,000 in currency and a $16,000 check which he had
obtained from a friend in exchange for $16,000 in currency. A property in
South Jersey was purchased in the name of "C.E.W. Corporation" with
Clarence Sprinkle, Edward Dooley and William Sternkopf disclosed principals.
Dooley, however, was a nominee for J. J. Kenny, because, as Kenny declared,
"I couldn't show that kind of cash." (Tr. 1079). Sternkopf made the

arrangements, transmitted the cash and the $16,000 check for purposes of
closing and received a twenty per cent interest in C.E.W. without making any
investment.
79

Sternkopf would have us hold that the cash invested in C.E.W. was not
sufficiently connected with the conspiracy, and improperly tied him into
admitted extortions by J. J. Kenny. There was, however, ample evidence that in
1967 Sternkopf was a knowing participant in the system and in the efforts of its
members to secrete the proceeds of their joint efforts.

80

When he took the stand in his defense Sternkopf insisted that J. J. Kenny was
not a principal in C.E.W., and that he was merely aiding Dooley, a legitimate
businessman. The J. J. Kenny version differs. It made Sternkopf a
knowledgeable participant in efforts to conceal the fruits of the conspiracy. The
conflict between the two versions was for resolution by the jury.

81

The evidence of concealed wealth was in each instance properly admitted.

B. The Di Feo Testimony

82

J. J. Kenny testified, without objection, that Di Feo Buick sold tires and cars to
Hudson County and to Jersey City and that the owner, Sam Di Feo made
kickbacks to him which, pursuant to the arrangements of the system, he turned
over to Stapleton. (Tr. 1007-8) Di Feo, called by the Government, demanded
and received immunity. Without objection he testified that he gave cash
kickbacks to J. J. Kenny on cars sold to Hudson County, on cars sold to Jersey
City to Murphy, and on cars ordered by Kunz for the Jersey City Sewerage
Authority to Flaherty. Still without objection he testified:

83 In 1969 what position, to your knowledge, did Fred Kropke hold in Hudson
"Q.
County?
A. He was the Chief of Police for the County.
84
85 Did there come a time when you had any dealings with him in reference to some
Q.
police cars for the Hudson County Police Department?
86 Well, he ordered ten police cars and I delivered the police cars. After that I had to
A.
give him two other cars, one was for himself and one was for Captain Robbins.
******
87
***
88

89 Did the defendant Kropke give you any instructions as to the bill for the Datsun
"Q.
for himself and the Oldsmobile for Captain Robbins?
A. He instructed me to bill these things to the County.
90
Q. Did he tell you how to bill it to the County?
91
A. As police cars." (Tr. 2103-04)
92

The Government then offered Exhibit 2165, the invoice to the County for the
two cars falsely described as Buick specials. For the first time the defendants
objected to the admission of the exhibit on grounds of relevancy. The objection
was overruled and the invoice received in evidence. Di Feo then testified
without objection:

"Q. Did Chief Kropke tell you why he wanted the invoice filled out that way?
93
A. So the County could pay for both cars." (Tr. 2105)
94
95

The invoice, amounting to $5,327.80, was paid by the county.

96

There was no request for any limiting instruction at the time of the testimony,
and no objection to the testimony. On appeal several defendants urge plain
error. Fed.R.Crim.P. 52.

97

We see none. Clearly the kickback testimony was proof of the existence of the
conspiracy alleged in Count II. These were crimes of extortion or bribery under
the laws of the State of New Jersey. The testimony with respect to the false
invoices for cars delivered to Kropke and Robbins did not, technically, establish
the offense of extortion or bribery under New Jersey law, since Di Feo was paid
by the County. The district court recognized as much when at the end of the
case it charged:

98
"Ladies
and gentlemen, my attention has been directed to the fact that I said the
property in question here was money and in the case of Di Feo automobiles. Upon
giving further thought to this I will eliminate 'automobiles,' because I do not recall
any testimony of an instance where Mr. Di Feo didn't get paid for the automobile.
Regardless of where the automobile went afterwards the County paid for it, but the
automobile wasn't extorted from him. There is evidence that money was extorted
from him." (Tr. 6833).
99

Kropke was a member of the official family who owed his position as Chief of

the Hudson County police to J. V. Kenny. He was deeply involved in J. V.

Kenny's efforts to conceal the cash loot of the conspiracy. He was in the
position to perpetrate the venal fraud described in the Di Feo testimony only
because the system of which he was a part had diverted the administration of
county government to its private ends. Even if the Di Feo-Kropke transaction is
regarded as a separate sub-conspiracy it is adequately connected to the one
grand conspiracy in which all the defendants joined under the leadership of J.
V. Kenny. Blumenthal v. United States, supra.
100 Moreover, against Kropke, the evidence, even if considered not a part of the
overall conspiracy charged, was admissible, within the discretion of the trial
court, as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, plan, knowledge and absence of
mistake. See Rule 4-04, Proposed Rules of Evidence for the United States
District Courts and Magistrates (1971); United States v. Hamilton, 455 F.2d
1268 (3d Cir., filed Feb. 14, 1972); United States v. Weiler, 385 F.2d 63 (3d
Cir. 1967); United States v. Klass, 166 F.2d 373 (3d Cir. 1948). The appellants
can hardly claim there was an abuse of such discretion when by failing to object
they never presented the issue to the district court.
101 Finally, even if the evidence were not properly admissible against Kropke, and
we have held otherwise, its admission against him, with no request for a
limiting instruction from the remaining defendants, is as to all of them at worst
harmless error, Fed.R.Crim.P. 52(a), rather than plain error. Rule 52 (b).
IV. Contentions Addressed to the Government's Cross
102
Examination of Defense Witnesses
103 The appellants contend that several prejudicial errors took place during the
Government's cross examination of defense witnesses.
A. Use of Suppressed Materials
104 We have referred heretofore, to the fact that the Government, rather than
disclosing the contents of affidavits used to obtain search warrants, agreed that
it would make no use of the materials seized in its affirmative case. The
searches and seizures were made at the offices of Stapleton and Kropke. Both
took the stand and testified. Both were confronted on cross examination with
the seized materials in order to impeach their direct testimony. Both
acknowledge that the seized evidence could, despite the Government's consent
to suppression, be used for impeachment purposes. Harris v. New York, 401
U.S. 222, 226, 91 S.Ct. 643, 28 L.Ed.2d 1 (1971); Walder v. United States, 347

U.S. 62, 65, 74 S.Ct. 354, 98 L.Ed. 503 (1954). Both now contend that their
direct testimony was in no way impeached by the seized evidence and that its
use was therefore improper. The record discloses, however, that the testimony
of each was substantially misleading and that the use made of the seized
evidence was in the case of both properly impeaching. Moreover in Stapleton's
cross examination the first reference to the seized materials was volunteered by
him. There was no error in the use made of the suppressed materials on cross
examination.
B. The Larner Report
105 A former Governor of New Jersey, Robert B. Meyner, testified as a character
witness for Sternkopf. He testified as to Sternkopf's reputation for honesty,
integrity and veracity. On cross examination he insisted he had never heard
anything bad about Sternkopf and he volunteered that he had him checked out
quite thoroughly before appointing him, on the recommendation of J. V. Kenny
to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Mr. Meyner was then confronted with
sections of a report on an investigation into the municipal affairs of Jersey City
made in 1954 and commonly known as the Larner Report. Prepared at the
order of the Superior Court of New Jersey, it reflected quite adversely upon
Sternkopf's performance as the supposedly independent City Auditor.
Sternkopf contends this kind of cross examination of a character witness was
impermissible. We have held otherwise. United States v. Polack, 442 F.2d 446,
447 (3d Cir. 1971), cert. denied, 403 U.S. 931, 91 S.Ct. 2253, 29 L. Ed.2d 710
(1971). The scope of cross examination was within the sound discretion of the
trial court. That discretion was not abused here. The cross examination went to
Mr. Meyner's knowledge of Sternkopf's reputation and to Mr. Meyner's
standard of good repute.
C. Kropke's Financial Condition
106 On his direct examination Kropke admitted delivering the attache case full of
cash from J. V. Kenny to Brill. See pp. 1219-1220 supra. He admitted that he
attempted, after the grand jury investigation was underway, to return to
Schuster of Ashland Oil $9,000 of a $10,000 payment which had been obtained
from Ashland, acting at the direction of Wolfe. In these transactions, he
contended, he was an innocent and unknowledgeable participant. He ended his
direct testimony by asserting that he never took a dollar from any of the
contractors doing business with Hudson County. He complains on appeal that
he was cross examined about his financial worth and his expenditures and that
in such cross examination the Government made use of his income tax returns.
The returns were used only to refresh his recollection as to his reported income,

and no claim was made that they were false. The cross examination was proper.
Kropke, holding a trusted appointive law enforcement position in a
governmental apparatus which, the evidence disclosed, had been largely
diverted from the purpose of public service to that of private gain, had
participated in the efforts of some of the co-conspirators to secrete the loot, and
had participated in the efforts of others, when the grand jury investigation was
in progress, to return some of the extorted funds to Ashland Oil Company. In
the face of such evidence it was proper for the court to permit the Government
to test the credibility of his protestations of non-participation by seeking to
establish the sources of his expenditures during the years in question. The
bounds of such cross examination was a matter for the discretion of the trial
court. United States v. Greenberg, 419 F.2d 808 (3d Cir. 1971). No abuse of
that discretion appears in this record.
D. The Court's Refusal to Recall a Government Witness
107
108 Appellant Murphy contends that it was error for the court to refuse to recall the
witness Manning, at the end of the case, nine days after he had completed his
testimony, for further cross examination. The alleged purpose of the additional
cross examination was to attack Manning's credibility by showing that he had
been the indirect recipient of money from Girard Engineering Co., one of the
extortion victims. The documents upon which this cross examination was
proposed to be based were available to counsel at the time of the original cross
examination. In that cross examination the credibility of Manning, the
immunized defendant and admitted coconspirator was attacked literally for
days. The scope of cross examination on credibility issues was within the
discretion of the trial court. The privilege of recross examination a fortiori ". . .
lies within the trial court's discretion." United States v. Stoehr, 196 F.2d 276,
280 (3rd Cir.), cert. denied, 344 U.S. 826, 73 S.Ct. 28, 97 L.Ed. 643 (1952).
109 We have considered each other reference to alleged improper cross examination
or limitation on cross examination asserted by any defendant, and in the light of
the record we find no abuse of discretion with respect to the permitted scope of
examination, and no error.
V. Sufficiency of the Evidence
110 The only appellants who contest the sufficiency of the evidence to support the
jury verdict are Kunz and Kropke. We have heretofore in other context
discussed the evidence connecting Kropke to the conspiracy. See pp. 12221223 supra. That evidence looked at with a view most favorable to the
Government was sufficient to present a jury question and to support the verdict

on which Kropke was convicted. United States v. Alper, 449 F.2d 1223, 1227
(3rd Cir. 1971); United States v. Carlson, 359 F.2d 592, 597 (3d Cir. 1966).
Measured by the same test the evidence connecting Kunz to the conspiracy,
though concededly not as strong as that tying in the other defendants was also
sufficient. Once the conspiracy is established, as here it was abundantly, only
slight evidence is necessary to support a jury verdict that an individual
defendant was a member. United States v. Addonizio, 449 F.2d 100, 102 (3d
Cir. 1971); United States v. Weber, 437 F.2d 327, 336 (3d Cir. 1970), cert.
denied, 402 U.S. 932, 91 S.Ct. 1524, 28 L.Ed.2d 867 (1971); United States v.
Bey, 437 F.2d 188, 192 (3d Cir. 1971).
111 From July 1, 1965 to July 1, 1969 Kunz was Director of the Department of
Public Work of Jersey City. All public works contracts were supervised by his
department. Di Feo testified that Kunz ordered the cars for the Jersey City
Sewerage Authority on which he paid Flaherty a 10% kickback. The evidence
established that on every public works contract let by the Public Works
Department a kickback was exacted. The witness Dolan testified that when he
became Chief Engineer of that Department Kunz told him that he was not to
issue plans and specifications to any contractors without prior clearance from
Murphy (Tr. 3246-48). Even though Dolan believed it was his function as Chief
Engineer to prequalify contractors, he followed Kunz's instructions. The
evidence established that Murphy's prequalification consisted of the exaction of
an agreement upon a 10% kickback. Kunz asserts that none of the above
evidence establishes his knowledge of or participation in the conspiracy. But it
is established in the record that neither Kunz nor any other of the defendants
would have been in the public positions which they held without the approval
of the system's head, J. V. Kenny. In 1969 Kunz was promoted from Director
of the Department of Public Works to Business Administrator. After it was
public knowledge that the federal grand jury was investigating Jersey City and
Hundson County Kunz, the City Business Administrator, called Dolan to his
office and this conversation ensued:
112 Witness [Dolan]: Mr. Kunz asked me to come down to his office, which I did
"The
do. We discussed several aspects of City business and then he asked me if I had
heard the latest about Mario Gallo.
I said to him, 'No, what is the latest about Mario Gallo?'
113
114said, 'They found him with a rope around his neck, the same thing could happen
He
to you or to anyone else who talks about what is going on in Jersey City."' (Tr.
3326).
115 We cannot say that the foregoing evidence, looked at most favorably to the

Government, does not support the jury verdict against Kunz. See United States
v. Alper, supra. 449 F.2d at 1227.
VI. The Suppression Motion At Trial
116 We have discussed heretofore supra, p. 1212, the contention that a warrant
search of the offices of Kropke and Stapleton was not supported by an adequate
warrant. At trial the defendant Stapleton moved to suppress the testimony of
the witnesses Schuster and Roetman on the ground that it was the fruit of an
illegal search. Fed.R.Crim. P. 41(e) (4); Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S.
471, 83 S.Ct. 407, 9 L. Ed.2d 441 (1963). The court heard argument on the
motions and declined to hold an evidentiary hearing.
117 Schuster, an employee of Standard Bithulitic, a division of Ashland Oil Co.,
appeared before the federal grand jury on September 23, 1970 pursuant to a
subpoena. He had not previously been in touch with any government agent. His
testimony on September 23, 1970 was limited to the structure of Standard
Bithulitic and Warren Brothers, and to the identity of various corporate officers.
118 On October 7, 1970 Kropke appeared at Schuster's office, identified someone,
falsely, as Wolfe, and attempted to see Schuster for the purpose of returning to
Schuster $9,000 out of $10,000 which had been extorted from Schuster's
company, and of explaining that the "dinner tickets" which the company
purchased were only $100 each, not $1,000 each. He saw Schuster's secretary,
Roetman, made known the purpose of the call, but since Schuster wasn't
available, did not deliver the money. The money later was seized in Stapleton's
office.
119 Prior to October 8, 1970 Schuster gave the United States Attorney the
information about Kropke's approach. (Tr. 2526, 2530, 2537). The affidavit in
support of the search warrant for Stapleton's office is dated October 8, 1970.
(Appellants' Appendix 265). The warrant issued on October 8, 1970
(Appellants' Appendix 267) and was executed the same day. Thereafter on
November 11, 1970 Schuster appeared before the grand jury and testified about
the conspiracy.
120 The trial court declined to hold an evidentiary hearing because rather than
Schuster's and Roetman's testimony being the fruit of the search it was clear in
the record that the search was the fruit of the information disclosed, prior
thereto, by Schuster. (Tr. 2556-63). The exclusionary rule operates on the fruits
of the search, not the seeds.

VII. The Trial Court's Attitude

121 Appellant Murphy, in particular, and all of the appellants to some degree, assert
that the trial judge throughout the trial manifested by his attitude toward
defense counsel such extreme hostility and prejudice as to deprive them of a fair
trial. From our trial judges we require basic fairness. We desire equanimity. We
cannot expect perfect sanctity. No record of over seven thousand pages of a
hard fought trial has ever been created in which, removed from the overall
context, an appellate court could not isolate occasional indications of
impatience or even irritability. This entire record is remarkably free from such
indications, and to the extent they do exist they show an even handed effort on
the part of the trial court to keep both the government attorneys and the defense
attorneys within appropriate bounds. This was a long and hard fought trial
before a sequestered jury. The court's efforts to prevent its undue prolongation
were proper. See, e.g., United States v. Murray, 445 F.2d 1171, 1176 (3d Cir.
1971) and cases cited. The incidents of which the appellants, especially
Murphy, complain, were directed principally to that end. The entire record
discloses that the appellants, including Murphy, received a basically fair trial.
VIII. The Government's Comments During Summation
122
123 The appellant's complain that a part of the Government's summation was
improper. The part complained of reads:
124 first count of this indictment charges that from at least as early as November
"The
1963 the defendants now on trial before you and the other defendants who were
severed and other people who are unknown to the Grand Jury entered into a
combination, kind of system, under which contractors, engineers, suppliers, anybody
who wanted to do business in Jersey City or Hudson county was required to pay
tribute, to kickback. You have seen during the course of this trial a number of
contractors take the witness stand and testify to exactly that. You have seen two men
who were part and parcel with these other men at one time, and they were not
talking about them the way they talked about them in the past few days several years
ago when they were occupying the adjoining offices. You have seen them take the
stand and tell you what was going on, not in Runnymede but in Jersey City and
Hudson County, and I suppose the most shocking thing of all about this trial is that
in seven full weeks you have not heard a single contractor take the stand, not a single
engineer, not a single supplier take the stand and say, 'I did business in Jersey City,
in Hudson County and I didn't have to kick-back.'" (Tr. 6637) (emphasis added)
125 The Government witnesses testified that under the system of which they and the
defendants were part every contractor doing business with the city had to kick

back 10% of the contract price. Numerous contractors and suppliers

corroborated this testimony by proof of kick backs they made. The defendants
were in a position to know of other contractors who did business with the city,
and these contractors were certainly within reach of the court's process. None
were called. The comment on their absence was appropriate:
126
".
. . The rule even in criminal cases, is that, if a party has it peculiarly within his
power to produce witnesses whose testimony would elucidate the transaction, the
fact that he does not do it creates the presumption that the testimony, if produced,
would be unfavorable." Graves v. United States, 150 U.S. 118, 121, 14 S.Ct. 40, 41,
37 L.Ed. 1021 (1893).
127 See also United States v. Restaino, 369 F.2d 544, 547 (3d Cir. 1966); United
States v. Lowe, 234 F.2d 919 (3d Cir. 1956), cert. denied, 352 U.S. 838, 77 S.
Ct. 59, 1 L.Ed.2d 56 (1956).
IX. The Court's Charge
128 One or more of the appellants urge that the court's charge was deficient in one
respect or another. Most of these contentions were not called to the attention of
the trial court after the charge and before the jury retired to deliberate and
hence may not be assigned as error here. Fed.R.Crim.P. 30. Other matters were
called to the trial court's attention and were in fact corrected. See, e. g., pp.
1223-1224 supra dealing with Di Feo's testimony.
129 Kropke did take exception to the trial court's definition of extortion under 18
U.S.C. Sec. 1951. The instruction given reads:
130 term 'extortion' means the obtaining of property from another with his consent
"The
induced either by wrongful use of fear or under color of official right. The term
'fear', as used in the statute, has the commonly accepted meaning. It is a state of
anxious concern, alarm, apprehension of anticipated harm to a business or of a
threatened loss.
******
131
***
132
133
Extortion
under color of official right is the wrongful taking by a public officer of
money not due him or his office, whether or not the taking was accomplished by
force, threats or use of fear. You will note that extortion as defined by Federal Law
is committed when property is obtained by consent of the victim by wrongful use of
fear, or when it is obtained under color of official right, and in either instance the

offense of extortion is committed." (Tr. 6773-74).

134 Kropke's objection is that the quoted instruction defines Hobbs Act extortion
disjunctively; that is, obtaining money or property either by use of fear or under
color of official right.
135 In United States v. Addonizio, 451 F. 2d 49 (3d Cir. 1971), which also involved
extortion by public officials, the case was submitted to the jury only on a use of
fear theory. It has been held that the "under color of official right" language
may have no applicability to extortionate acts committed by private individuals.
Bianchi v. United States, 219 F.2d 182, 192 (8th Cir. 1955), cert. denied, 349
U.S. 915, 75 S.Ct. 604, 99 L.Ed. 1249 (1955). But while private persons may
violate the statute only by use of fear and public officials may violate the act by
use of fear, persons holding public office may also violate the statute by a
wrongful taking under color of official right. The term "extortion" is defined in
Sec. 1951(b) (2):
136 term 'extortion' means the obtaining of property from another, with his consent,
"The
induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear, or under
color of official right."
137 The "under color of official right" language plainly is disjunctive. That part of
the definition repeats the common law definition of extortion, a crime which
could only be committed by a public official, and which did not require proof of
threat, fear, or duress. See, e.g., United States v. Nardello, 393 U.S. 286, 289,
89 S.Ct. 534, 21 L.Ed.2d 487 (1969); United States v. Sutter, 160 F.2d 754, 756
(7th Cir. 1947); State v. Begyn, 34 N.J. 35, 167 A.2d 161 (1961); State v.
Weleck, 10 N.J. 355, 371, 91 A.2d 751, 759-760 (1952). The disjunctive
charge on Sec. 1951 extortion was correct.
138 Appellant Kunz complains that the court did not in its charge sufficiently
marshal the evidence applicable to him. He did not request that this be done,
undoubtedly because his attorney did so skillfully, presenting the evidence
against him in its most favorable light.
X. Sternkopf's Sentence
139 Sternkopf contends that the $20,000 fine imposed on him was improper
because the sentence was a general one and the maximum on any single count
was $10,000.00. He cites no authority for this proposition. The maximum fine
in a general sentence may be determined by aggregating the maximum under
each valid count. See e.g., Peoples v. United States, 412 F.2d 5, 6 (8th Cir.

1969); United States v. Woykovsky, 297 F.2d 179, 181 (7th Cir. 1961), cert.
denied, 369 U.S. 867, 82 S.Ct. 1034, 8 L.Ed.2d 86 (1962); Robles v. United
States, 279 F.2d 401, 407 (9th Cir. 1960), cert. denied, 365 U.S. 836, 81 S.Ct.
750, 5 L.Ed.2d 745 (1961). In United States v. Rose, 215 F.2d 617, 630 (3d Cir.
1954) we said "We are strongly of the opinion that it is highly desirable that the
trial judge in imposing sentence on an indictment containing more than one
count deal separately with each count." The affirmance should not be construed
as any change in our view as to the desirability of separate treatment.
140 The judgments appealed from will be affirmed.

The court sentenced defendants Whelan, Flaherty and Murphy to terms of

fifteen years imprisonment; defendant Sternkopf to a term of ten years
imprisonment and a fine of $20,000; defendant Kropke to a term of five years
imprisonment; defendant Stapleton to a term of two years imprisonment with
eighteen months of that term suspended and three years probation; defendant
Kunz to a term of two years imprisonment with eighteen months of that term
suspended and two years probation; defendant Wolfe to a term of five years
imprisonment with the entire term suspended and five years probation

"Interference with commerce by threats or violence

(a) Whoever in any way or degree obstructs, delays or affects commerce or the
movement of any article or commodity in commerce, by robbery or extortion or
attempts or conspires so to do, or commits or threatens physical violence to any
person or property in furtherance of a plan or purpose to do anything in
violation of this section shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not
more than twenty years, or both.
(b) As used in this section(2) The term 'extortion' means the obtaining of property from another, with his
consent, induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or
fear, or under color of official right.
(3) The term 'commerce' means commerce within the District of Columbia, or
any Territory or Possession of the United States; all commerce between any
point in a State, Territory, Possession, or the District of Columbia and any point
outside thereof; all commerce between points within the same State through
any place outside such State; and all other commerce over which the United
States has jurisdiction."

"Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud United States

If two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United
States, or to defraud the United States, or any agency thereof in any manner or
for any purpose, and one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object
of the conspiracy, each shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not
more than five years, or both."

"Interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises

(a) whoever travels in interstate or foreign commerce or uses any facility in
interstate or foreign commerce, including the mail, with intent to(1) distribute the proceeds of any unlawful activity; or
(2) commit any crime or violence to further any unlawful activity; or
(3) otherwise promote, manage, establish, carry on, or facilitate the promotion,
management, establishment, or carrying on, of any unlawful activity, and
thereafter performs or attempts to perform any of the acts specified in
subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3), shall be fined not more than $10,000 or
imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.
(b) As used in this section 'unlawful activity' means . . .
(2) extortion, bribery, or arson in violation of the laws of the State in which
committed or of the United States.

See pp. 1224, 1225, 1227 to 1228, infra

Not more than twenty years and not more than $10,000 under 18 U.S.C. Sec.
1951; not more than five years and not more than $10,000 under 18 U.S.C. Sec.
371

These degrees of participation were recognized in the varying sentences

imposed. See Note 1 supra

At the time J. J. Kenny gave the testimony from which the excerpts quoted
above were taken defendant J. V. Kenny had not been severed

Count II alleges that the conspiracy began on or about November 1, 1963 and
continued up to and including the date of the indictment